set something aside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set something aside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to reserving or saving something for a specific purpose or time. Example: "In order to focus on my studies, I decided to set my social life aside for a few months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Bark spends his time at a country store, conversing with the proprietor, Mr. Rubens (Maurice Moscovitch), who has had the wisdom to set something aside for old age.

The New York Times

There's an introduction to financial literacy: how to think about developing a business, how to set something aside every week to be able to draw on in the future, whether for emergencies, school fees, or health expenditures.

Yale University

After she was gone, I was unable to open up any of the flat red boxes she'd kept hidden in a suitcase on her closet shelf, never mind set something aside for the sake of my future happiness.

The New Yorker

She is now out of debt and, with an additional $300 monthly subsidy from the Protestant agency's stipend program, she can more reasonably hope to meet her expenses, buy groceries, send $20 a month home to Ecuador and, perhaps, set something aside.

The New York Times

Wilderness is Glacier National Park.' You get the attitude from the people who are interested in forest management that says, 'Well, why would you want to set something aside that could be harvested?' Then you get the people who are worried about everything that could happen in the world, and they say: 'Well, what if it blew down?

The New York Times - Magazine

In these scenarios, it's better to set something aside and come back to it later.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

They all serve the same purpose – setting something aside now to enhance purchasing power later.

Forbes

"If you're paying for college and not saving for retirement, you need to start saving and setting something aside for yourself before you think about giving your kids a free ride," she says.

Forbes

You set aside something for bad times".

The New York Times

"If we didn't set aside something for small business, they were going to have a harder time".

The New York Times

She also set aside something special for each to receive long after she'd be gone.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to save money, use "set something aside" to emphasize planning and foresight, such as "It's wise to "set something aside" each month for retirement."

Common error

Avoid using "set something aside" when you mean to "set something apart", which means to distinguish it or make it special. "Set aside" implies reserving or saving, while "set apart" implies uniqueness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set something aside" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It's typically used to describe the act of reserving or allocating resources, time, or attention for a specific, often future, purpose. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "set something aside" is a commonly used and grammatically correct idiomatic expression that signifies reserving or saving resources for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is both correct and practical. It's frequently found in News & Media, Wiki, and Academic sources, demonstrating its versatility across various contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to avoid confusing it with "set apart", which has a different meaning related to distinction. To expand your vocabulary, consider alternatives like "reserve something" or "save for later". By following these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately use "set something aside" in your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lay something aside

Is a slightly more formal or archaic version of the original phrase.

reserve something

Focuses specifically on holding something back for a particular use.

allocate resources

Emphasizes the distribution of resources for a defined purpose.

save for later

Highlights the act of keeping something for future use or consumption.

put something by

Indicates saving something, often money, for future needs or emergencies.

earmark funds

Specifically refers to designating funds for a particular purpose.

hold in reserve

Implies keeping something available for future use, especially in case of need.

keep in storage

Focuses on the physical act of storing something for later retrieval.

put on hold

Indicates temporarily postponing or suspending something.

table a discussion

Specifically refers to postponing a discussion or decision in a meeting.

FAQs

What does "set something aside" mean?

The phrase "set something aside" means to reserve or save something, like money, time, or resources, for a specific purpose or for later use. It implies a deliberate act of putting something away from current use.

How can I use "set something aside" in a sentence?

You might say, "I need to "set something aside" each month for my children's education", or "Let's "set something aside" an hour each week to work on this project".

What are some alternatives to "set something aside"?

You can use alternatives like "reserve something", "put something by", or "save for later" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "set aside something" instead of "set something aside"?

While both word orders can be grammatically correct, "set something aside" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Set aside something" might be used in specific contexts, but "set something aside" is generally preferred.